Wormwood(Artemisia absinthium),the herb that makes Absinthe Absinthe, has an interesting history and
mythology of its own. Sometimes mentioned in ancient texts as a vile poison
and sometimes as an herb of medicinal value, this herb grows in a good portion
of the world and has been used by humans since ancient times.

General Information About Wormwood

Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) is a perennial plant
or shrubby plant found all over the world. Its appearance is characterized
by deeply-incised leaves and small yellow flowers. Literally and somewhat
metaphorically, wormwood often grows in waste places. The leaves are bitter-tasting,
and so the word wormwood is also defined as a description of something
grievous and bitter.

Historically, this herb has been utilized for a variety
of purposes. Wormwood has been used as a medicinal herb, as a vermifuge
(an agent that dispels intestinal worms), as a protection against the
plague, as a deterrent for vermin (especially fleas), and as the star
ingredient in the infamous drink of absinthe, to name a few. The application
I find the most perversely curious is the ancient Egyptian documented
use of wormwood as part of a treatment for pains of the anus that had
been caused by demons. (See Ancient Egyptian
historical uses for more details on that one.)

Its Latin name (Artemisia absinthium) illustrates
that the herb was named after the goddess, Artemis, the goddess of hunt
from Greek mythology.

Nicholas Culpeper, the famous herbalist of the 17th Century,
in his book The Complete Herbal called it, among other things,
a "cure-all," and said of it: "the herb is good for something, because
God made nothing in vain." (See The Complete
Herbal section for more info on Culpeper's writings on wormwood.)

Certainly, wormwood must be good for something, or why else
would it be the subject of so much controversy and historical lore?

Medicinal Uses & Toxicity

As I am a historical trivia collector and not a medical expert,
the following information has been gathered from a variety of sources,
and I have no personal knowledge of its accuracy. That wormwood is toxic,
it is well documented, but the degree as to how toxic it really is has
been hotly debated. That it, also, has been used beneficially as a medicine
is also documented. How much to use and under what circumstances is beyond
the scope of my ability to advise well. So, please consult other sources.
But as a general synopsis, I offer the following:

Although the manufacture of absinthe has been banned in
many places of the world because of the toxicity historically attributed
to its ingredient wormwood, the herb wormwood itself has not been banned.
Wormwood, prior to the hysteria that started over absinthe in the 19th
century, generally was not regarded as so dangerous and toxic, and the
herb is still used in modern herbal concoctions. Used correctly and in
moderation, herbal teas made from wormwood are often mentioned in herbal
medicinal guides, mainly as a stomach tonic and sometimes as a concoction
to be applied externally to bruises and sprains.

The toxicity of wormwood is attributed to a compound it
contains called Thujone. Thujone can be toxic to the brain and liver.
The leaves of the wormwood plant also contain a substance called santonin,
which is said to cause vertigo and delusion in overdoses. Thus, this is
possibly why the excessive and chronic use of absinthe was sometimes reported
to cause a wide variety of symptoms and maladies, including convulsions,
hallucinations, tremors, and sometimes paralysis, although I'd hazard
to say that the high alcohol proof in a typical glass of absinthe and
the fact that chronic drinkers of absinthe tended to imbibe several glasses
of absinthe daily probably had a little something to do with such maladies
as well. The reasons behind the demonization of absinthe were in a large
part political in nature, so it's best to question all data gathered and
reported during the heyday of the hysteria. This doesn't negate some of
the findings necessarily, but neither should they be taken as objective.

Thujone depresses the central medullary part of the brain
-- the part involving pain and anxiety. Therefore, some herbalists have
recommended wormwood tea to reduce anxiety. However, wormwood is also
a cardiac stimulant, so using it for such a purpose may not work in all
situations.

In The Herb Book by John
Lust, he lists the properties and uses of wormwood to be:

". . . . a stomach medicine, being useful for gastric pain,
and a lack of appetite, as well as related problems of heartburn and
flatulence. It is also said to be helpful for liver insufficiency by
stimulating liver and gallbladder secretions. Wormwood oil is a cardiac
stimulant and therefore acts, when taken in proper doses, to improve
blood circulation. Wormwood tea has been recommended to help relieve
pain during labor. The powdered flowering tops have been used to expel
intestinal worms. A fomentation of wormwood tea can be applied externally
to irritations, sprains, or bruises. The oil acts as a local anesthetic
when applied to relieve pains of rheumatism, neuralgia, and arthritis.
CAUTION: Pure wormwood oil is a strong poison, and excessive use of
the plant can also cause poisoning. With proper dosage, there is little
or no danger."

His book gives information on preparation and dosages of
this herb for medicinal uses.